SELF-CONFIDENCE 221within reason is beyond reach, and you will have rendered a service that
will go a long way toward winning the battle of life.
One of the most successful men in his line in America gives entire
credit for his success to his wife. When they were first married she wrote
a creed which he signed and placed over his desk. This is what it said:
I believe in myself I believe in those who work with me. I believe
in my employer. I believe in my friends. I believe in my family. I
believe that God will lend me everything I need with which to
succeed if I do my best to earn it through faithful and honest
service. I believe in prayer and I will never close my eyes in sleep
without praying for divine guidance to the end that I will be
patient with other people and tolerant with those who do not
believe as I do. I believe that success is the result of intelligent
effort and does not depend upon luck or sharp practices or
double-crossing friends, fellow men, or my employer. I believe I
will get out of life exactly what I put into it, therefore I will be
careful to conduct myself toward others as I would want them
to act toward me. I will not slander those whom I do not like. I
will not slight my work no matter what I may see others doing.
I will render the best service of which I am capable because I
have pledged myself to succeed in life and I know that success
is always the result of conscientious and efficient effort. Finally,
I will forgive those who offend me because I realize that I shall
sometimes offend others and I will need their forgiveness.
Signed .......................................The woman who wrote this creed was a practical psychologist of the
first order. With the influence and guidance of such a marriage partner
as a helpmate any man or woman could achieve noteworthy success.
Analyze this creed and you will observe how freely the personal
pronoun is used. It starts off with the affirmation of Self-Confidence,